One is from Belfast, the other from the more exotic surrounds of Catalonia – but the careers of Jonny Evans and Gerard Pique are inextricably linked.

Jonny Evans, seen here with Wayne Rooney, has emerged as a key figure for United this season

One is from Belfast, the other from the more exotic surrounds of Catalonia – but the careers of Jonny Evans and Gerard Pique are inextricably linked.

In the summer that Sir Alex Ferguson allowed Pique to return to his homeland to rejoin Barcelona, Evans was recalled from loan at Sunderland to see if he could cut it at Old Trafford.

That was 2008 and since then Pique has been a pivotal part in two Champions League triumph’s for Pep Guardiola’s brilliant side and a first World Cup win for Spain.

Back in Manchester, Evans’ initially promising start was replaced by fitful inconsistency and eventually a crisis of form so severe that he looked set to be shown the door at United.

While the 25-year-old has never courted comparison with his former team-mate, Pique’s shadow has always loomed large over the Northern Ireland international’s fortunes.

And as Barcelona beat United for a second time in three years at Wembley last May to be crowned European champions, there wasn’t a United fan in the house who wouldn’t have questioned the wisdom of selling Pique back to the club where he began his career.

Evans didn’t even make the squad for that Champions League final, with Chris Smalling preferred to him on the bench – and Phil Jones soon to be arriving from Blackburn for £16.5m.

So how did the Ulsterman go from those depths to being described by his manager as the best defender in the country in space of 11 months?

Ferguson has not been afraid to use the superlative in recognition of Evans’ contribution to United’s charge towards a record 20th title.

He believes his form has been the key factor in softening the blow of Nemanja Vidic’s season-ending cruciate damage in December.

“I must admit my heart sank a little when I learned just how long Nemanja was going to be out,” said Ferguson. “He and Rio Ferdinand had become the cornerstone of our defence, but Rio responded brilliantly, despite his back problem, and has now struck up a fine partnership with Jonny Evans.

“Together they have been rock solid to give us great consistency in defence with Patrice Evra, our captain these days, always a livewire at left-back and with young Rafael maturing rapidly on the other flank.

“Jonny came to us from Belfast when he was 12 or 13, always exceptionally talented, but gangly with physical issues growing up.

Not everyone will agree with that assessment, but the turnaround in Evans prospects has been remarkable.

He might not offer the cultured presence of Pique, but his assuredness alongside Ferdinand has helped United keep five clean sheets in their last six Premier League games, which has been key to Ferguson’s side building up a five point lead over City at the top of the table. And for the first time in five years, Ferguson will begin next season with serious considerations of breaking up his long-time central defensive axis of Ferdinand and Vidic.

The United manager largely attributes Evans’ impressive form to a consistent run in the team.

And while that has been pivotal, his response to the arrival of competition in the form of Smalling and Jones has been exemplary.

Both players have looked like overtaking him in the pecking order this season – being tipped to form a partnership that will serve both club and country over the next decade.

Now it is the England duo, signed for a combined £26.5m, who find themselves behind Evans, Vidic and Ferdinand as Ferguson’s first choices.

It represents a personal triumph for Evans, who has displayed resilience to ride out such intense criticism.

He joked that David de Gea benefited from not being able to speak the language when his early wobbles came under such scrutiny.

Evans was not so fortunate. But a deep thinker, who has always been a popular figure in the dressing room, he says his experiences at United have been character building.

Meanwhile, with just four games remaining, United could seal the championship on April 30 at the Etihad Stadium.

For his part, Wayne Rooney is already targeting a potentially unforgettable derby.

“A month ago, if somebody told me that we’d be five points clear at this stage of the season then we would have been delighted,” he said. “Sunday against Everton is a massive game for us, we need to get three points to make it an interesting night against City.”

Rooney’s double in the 4-0 win against Aston Villa took his United total to 178, one behind the records of George Best and Dennis Violet.

But still he was critical of his own performance.

He added: “It would be great to equal the record and hopefully surpass them.

“It was nice to score two goals but I didn’t think my performance was good enough, I was disappointed with that but obviously I’m happy with the goals.”

Our newspapers include the flagship Manchester Evening News - Britain's largest circulating
regional daily with up to 130,485 copies - as well as 20 local weekly titles across Greater
Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire.

Free morning newspaper, The Metro, published every weekday, is also part of our portfolio,
delivering more than 200,000 readers in Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Business Week is the region’s number one provider of business news andfeatures, targeting a bespoke business audience with 12,687 copies every Thursday.

Every month, M.E.N. Media’s print products reach 2.2 million adults, spanning from Accrington
in the north to Macclesfield in the south.